NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2024
Recaps of a busy Thursday schedule, the first 32 players selected for the 2024 All-Star Game are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins took a 5-2 lead over the Boston Bruins and held on for a 6-5 victory, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner and collected two assists while Kris Letang picked up three assists for the 19-14-4 Penguins (42 points), who sit one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and two assists while Brad Marchand tallied twice for the Bruins (23-8-6) as they dropped to second place in the overall standings with 52 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Penguins announced forward Matt Nieto will be sidelined for six to eight weeks following knee surgery. Meanwhile, Jesse Puljujarvi signed a professional tryout offer with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Two unanswered third-period goals by Jacob Trouba and Jimmy Vesey gave the New York Rangers a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist while Vincent Trocheck chipped in three assists for the Rangers (26-10-1) as they took over first place in the overall standings with 53 points. Colin Blackwell scored for the injury-ravaged Blackhawks as they slipped to 11-25-2.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)
An overtime goal by Nathan MacKinnon lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the Dallas Stars 5-4. MacKinnon scored twice and picked up an assist while Jonathan Drouin also netted two goals for the 25-11-3 Avalanche, who’ve won four straight and moved into first place in the Western Conference with 53 points. Tyler Seguin potted two goals for the Stars (22-10-5) as they sit in third place in the Central Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon is tearing up the league right now. With 21 points in his last nine games, the Avs center is tied with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for the league’s scoring lead with 64 points.
Speaking of Nikita Kucherov, he picked up an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-1. Darren Raddysh scored twice for the Lightning (19-16-5) as they moved ahead of the New Jersey Devils into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 43 points. Zach Bogosian scored for the 16-17-4 Wild.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves to backstop his club to a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, handing the latter their 10th straight loss. Morgan Barron and Gabriel Vilardi scored for the Jets (24-9-4), winning four straight and sitting second in the Western Conference with 52 points. Alexander Barabanov scored for the 9-27-3 Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Sharks announced defenseman Matt Benning is out for the rest of the season following hip surgery. He’s expected to be ready for training camp in September.
The Florida Panthers picked up their sixth straight win by downing the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1, handing the Stanley Cup champions their sixth loss in their last seven games. Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the 24-12-2 Panthers, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 50 points. Logan Thompson made 32 saves for the Golden Knights (22-12-5), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 49 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov caught an inadvertent elbow in the head from Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez and left the game in the first period. Barkov’s teammate Evan Rodrigues also left the game following the first period with a lower-body injury.
Before this game, the Golden Knights claimed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.
A shootout goal by Johnny Gaudreau lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. The Blue Jackets (13-19-8) overcame a 2-0 deficit on third-period goals by Damon Severson and Jake Bean while Daniil Tarasov stopped 39 shots. Travis Konecny scored both goals for the 19-13-6 Flyers, who hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 44 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers forwards Cam Atkinson and Morgan Frost were healthy scratches from this contest. It’s the 11th time Frost has been scratched, which could fuel speculation over his future in Philadelphia.
The Calgary Flames scored four first-period goals en route to a 6-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich and Conor Zary each had a goal and an assist for the 17-16-5 Flames. Goalie Juuse Saros got the hook following the second period after giving up five goals on 20 shots as his Predators (21-17-1) sit in the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 43 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Dennis Gilbert suffered an upper-body injury late in the game following a slew-foot by Predators forward Philip Tomasino. Earlier in the day, they assigned defenseman Oliver Kylington to their AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint as he prepares to return to action after missing all of last season and the first half of this one dealing with mental health issues.
Seattle Kraken netminder Joey Daccord turned aside 32 shots as his club downed the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Jordan Eberle and Vince Dunn each had two points as the 16-14-9 Kraken picked up their sixth straight win and extended their points streak to a franchise record 10 games. They also moved into the final Western wild-card spot with 41 points. Parker Kelly scored for the 14-20-0 Senators, who’ve dropped seven of their last 10 games.
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Thomas also picked up an assist for the 19-17-1 Blues. Conor Garland scored for the Canucks (24-11-3) as they sit third overall in the Western Conference with 51 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues recalled forward Jakub Vrana, placed defenseman Justin Faulk (lower body) on injured reserve and sent forward Nikita Alexandrov to their AHL affiliate in Springfield on a conditioning stint.
Three unanswered third-period goals powered the New York Islanders over the Arizona Coyotes by a score of 5-1. Bo Horvat scored twice, Mathew Barzal collected two assists and Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves for the Islanders (18-10-10) as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division. Nick Schmaltz scored for the 19-16-2 Coyotes as they slipped out of a Western wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders indicated goalie Semyon Varlamov is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. They called up netminder Ken Appleby from their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri tallied two goals while Patrick Kane scored the winner in a shootout in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Wings improved to 19-16-4 on the season. Adrian Kempe had two goals for the Kings (20-9-6) as they sit third in the Pacific Division.
The Buffalo Sabres crushed the Montreal Canadiens 6-1. Jeff Skinner had a goal and three assists, Tage Thompson scored twice and Devon Levi made 32 saves for the 16-19-4 Sabres. Joel Armia had the only goal for the 16-17-5 Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Canadiens announced center Christian Dvorak is done for the season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The league released the names of 32 players (one from each club) selected to participate in the 2024 All-Star Game on Feb. 3 in Toronto.
Among the Eastern Conference notables are Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.
Western Conference stars include Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Chicago Blackhawks rookie center Connor Bedard, who will be the youngest player in NHL history to play for an NHL All-Star team.
Fans can vote through Jan. 11 to select the remaining 12 players.
DAILY FACEOFF: New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin was not among the 32 players selected for the All-Star Game because his wife was expecting their second child then. He asks Rangers fans to vote for one of his teammates instead.
Last nights Pens/Bruins game was very entertaining, the surprise was that the Bruins didn’t score in the last 6 minutes of game. Bruins team D isn’t that good, right now they have 3 good Dmen, team lacks overall toughness
I couldn’t agree more. Very entertaining affair.
While we’re on the subject. The Pens’ D is nothing to write home about on most nights either.
It was entertaining Joe. Agree on the D, Lohrei had a tough night and got like one shift in the third period. Matt Grzelcyk had 0 across the board but he didn’t play well. The whole team defense game was bad.
On the other side Malkin was invisible, thought this would be a game up his alley but look like he took the night off.
Credit to Sidney Crosby something like 17 years in the league and this year he is having his best season at the faceoff draws. Was impressed with Drew O’Connor boy can fly had a solid game.
Didn’t mine the loss keep waiting for the Bruins to fall back to earth, but they seem to turn things around and pull out wins.
Time for the Hanifan trade!
Boston doesn’t have the accepts to beat any of the other teams out for Hanafin or Lindholm at the TDL, and will have to upgrade over the summer
Can’t do it unless it’s a player for player trade…his $$$ can’t fit
Coaching change in Ottawa should’ve got a bump by now, right? What’s missing?
This season is the equivalent of that one off-season that fans declared was won by Dorian… general consensus most agreed and expected but when rubber hit the ice…wtf?
This must be their off year developing teams suffer.
Dorian made some stupid moves right before the Sens were sold and they are showing. I think maybe he was trying to impress the new owner but it backfired royally. Tarasenko was like flushing cash down the drain along with tying the team to Korpisalo for so long.
The rising cap and Ottawa shedding dead cap space and Tarasenko leaving… hopefully by trade… will allow Staios to make something happen.
I also think the effects of keeping DJ on MUCH longer than they should have is really showing. I know they didn’t want to make too many changes right after new owners, but DJ should have been gone last year already.
The last time Winnipeg gave up more then 3 goals in a game was Nov 2/23 a 5-2 loss to Vegas.
Since that time they’ve played 27 games and the most they gave up in a game is 3 goals and that happen 4 times. 23 games over a 27 game period were they given up 2 goals or less.
That is some impressive defensive team play.
Winnipeg is playing some impressive playoff type hockey – and without Connor. And I’ve always liked Bowness as a coach – hoping they take it all !
Yes, it would great to see WPG do well, especially with all the rumors swirling around that team this off season.
They had a focus on changing the culture. We can only speculate what that meant, but they are definitely playing as a team now. Chevvy was on the hot seat, stayed patient, again, nice to see them win.
Caper – are the fans showing up again?
Ray their last game was 1st sellout. Hopefully it’s the start of a string of sellouts.
Just a little clarity on the Hartman fine and no suspension.
As we all know Perfetti was mic’d up and it was caught on mic what Hartman said.
Part of the PA agreement with players being mic’d up is anything caught on mic isn’t allowed to be used in regards to a suspension of fine.
There’s no defending them anymore. The Sens are a dumpster fire for this season. With the extra cap space next year (rising cap limit and dead cap space clearing out and Tarasenko hitting the bricks) I hope Staios can do some good moves. Starting at the trade deadline.
Bruins guys any word on what the Bruins might do with Milan Lucic… don’t know if true but someone wrote that he was seen out in public with his wife and they did seem happy together
Probably because he wasn’t choking her and not getting arrested.
He should be done!
Those are likely a couple of the reasons Captain! Well done, thanks for the laugh.
Right … that was Hilarious